Integrating Different Part Of Your Personality with Eben Pagan
Eben Pagan teaches a powerful neurolinguistic programming exercise called Parts Integration to resolve inner conflict between the part of you that wants to play it safe and the part that wants to take risks. Using a hands-on visualization technique, you'll learn to merge these conflicting aspects of your personality into a unified, powerful force for business growth.
Teachings 5
Most entrepreneurs have two prevalent conflicting parts: the safety-seeking part that wants to stick with what has worked, and the risk-taking part that wants to innovate and try new things
When these two parts conflict, we get way out of alignment - one wants to play it safe, stay in comfort zone, the other wants to take risks, change everything, throw away the old just for sake of trying something new
Parts Integration is performed by visualizing the safety-seeking part in your left hand and the risk-taking part in your right hand, then merging them together and integrating them into your chest
The exercise involves holding hands out, imagining color, shape, texture, movement of each part, bringing hands together to merge the parts, then drawing the integrated combination into your chest where it spreads throughout your body
Both conflicting parts have positive intentions - they're both trying to keep you safe and growing, which allows them to work together as a team when properly integrated
The safety-seeking part can help the risk-taking part by providing a more tempered approach, while the innovative part can serve the safety-seeking part by creating positive change - they make a great team when aligned
We unconsciously shift between different personality parts throughout the day - lazy parts, motivated parts, loving parts, independent parts - without realizing when control switches
When lazy part is in control you want to lay down and not do anything, when motivated part shows up it wants to get things done and kick butt, when loving part is around you want to hug and cuddle, when independent part is around you want to be completely alone
The Parts Integration exercise can be applied whenever you notice inner conflict to align whatever conflicting parts are causing the misalignment
Eben recommends using this Parts Integration exercise to align whatever conflicting parts are present whenever you experience inner conflict, not just for the safety vs risk-taking dynamic
Perspectives 1
We don't have one personality but many personalities - each of us contains multiple 'selves' that take turns being in control throughout the day
Peter Ouspensky's diagram showing a circle with 30-40 letter 'I's inside represents our multiple personalities, compared to a cruise ship with different people operating engine room, steering, sonar monitoring
Quotable Moments 3
“each of us does not have one personality we have many personalities”
— Eben Pagan“when these two parts of us conflict we really get way out of alignment”
— Eben Pagan“these two parts of you can work together and they can make a great team as long as you integrate and align them”
— Eben Pagan
How to do the Parts Integration exercise
A step-by-step NLP technique to resolve inner conflict between your safety-seeking and risk-taking personalities
- 1
Prepare your position
Close your eyes and hold your hands out in front of you, either standing or sitting comfortably
- 2
Visualize the safety part
In your left hand, imagine the part of you that likes to play it safe, stay in your comfort zone, and stick with what has worked. Notice its color, shape, texture, and movement
- 3
Visualize the risk-taking part
In your right hand, imagine the part that likes to innovate, take risks, and try new things. Notice its color, shape, texture, and how it's moving
- 4
Merge the parts
Bring your hands closer together until the two parts merge into one integrated combination
- 5
Integrate into your body
Draw the merged parts up to your chest and push them directly into your chest, feeling them spread through your entire body
- 6
Honor both intentions
Recognize that both parts have positive intentions and can work together as a team to help each other
Questions Answered
What is Parts Integration in NLP
“this is an exercise that comes from neurolinguistic programming and it's called Parts integration”
— Eben Pagan
Parts Integration is a neurolinguistic programming exercise that helps resolve inner conflict by merging conflicting aspects of your personality. You visualize different parts in each hand, then physically merge them together and integrate them into your body.
How do you do the Parts Integration exercise
“in your left hand what I'd like you to imagine is that part of you that likes to play it safe... in your right hand I'd like you to imagine that part of your personality that likes to do new things”
— Eben Pagan▶ 3:07
Hold your hands out and visualize your safety-seeking part in your left hand and your risk-taking part in your right hand. Notice their colors, shapes, and textures. Then bring your hands together to merge the parts, draw the integrated combination to your chest, and push it into your body to spread throughout.
Why do we have multiple personalities
“each of us does not have one personality we have many personalities it just seems like we have one personality because the personality that's kind of in charge is always the one that's conscious”
— Eben Pagan
We don't actually have one personality but many different parts that take turns being in control. It's like a cruise ship with different people operating various functions - engine room, steering, sonar. We just don't consciously notice when different parts take over.
What causes inner conflict in entrepreneurs
“most of us have two parts to our personality that are very prevalent and these two parts are the one that wants to do things the way we've always done them to play it safe... and the other one is the one that wants to take risks”
— Eben Pagan▶ 2:35
Most entrepreneurs have two conflicting parts: one that wants to play it safe and stick with what has worked, and another that wants to take risks and try new things. When these parts conflict, you get way out of alignment and struggle with decision-making.
How can conflicting personality parts work together
“these two parts both have very positive intentions they both intend positive things they're both trying to keep you safe they're both trying to keep you growing”
— Eben Pagan▶ 5:44
Both parts have positive intentions - they're trying to keep you safe and growing. The safety-seeking part can help the risk-taking part by providing a more tempered approach, while the innovative part can help the safety-seeking part by creating beneficial change.
Summary
Understanding Multiple Personalities Within One Person
Eben introduces the counterintuitive concept that we don't have one personality but many different parts that take turns being in control. Using Peter Ouspensky's diagram and a cruise ship metaphor, he explains how different aspects of our personality operate like different crew members managing various functions.
The Two Conflicting Parts Most Entrepreneurs Face
Most entrepreneurs struggle with inner conflict between two prevalent parts: the safety-seeking part that wants to stick with what has worked versus the risk-taking part that wants to innovate and try new things. When these parts conflict, entrepreneurs get way out of alignment and struggle with decision-making.
The Parts Integration Exercise Step-by-Step
Eben guides listeners through the actual NLP Parts Integration exercise, having them visualize each conflicting part in their hands, notice the colors and textures, then physically merge the parts together and integrate them into their chest. The process helps align the conflicting aspects into a unified force.
How Conflicting Parts Can Work Together
The breakthrough insight is that both conflicting parts have positive intentions - they're both trying to keep you safe and growing. When properly integrated, the safety-seeking part can help the risk-taking part with a more tempered approach, while the innovative part can serve the safety-seeking part by creating beneficial change.
Counterpoint
Claim: “You have one consistent personality that makes decisions”
Reframe: You actually have many different personalities within you that take turns being in control, like different crew members operating a cruise ship
Peter Ouspensky's diagram with 30-40 'I's in a circle, cruise ship metaphor with engine room operators, steering person, sonar monitor - most people don't consciously notice when different parts take over
Claim: “Inner conflict between safety and risk-taking is a problem to eliminate”
Reframe: These conflicting parts both have positive intentions and can work together as a powerful team when properly integrated
Safety-seeking part helps risk-taking part with tempered approach, while innovative part serves safety-seeking part by creating beneficial change - they can make a great team when aligned
Key Points 6
We don't have one personality but many personalities - each of us contains multiple 'selves' that take turns being in control throughout the day
▶ 0:30Most entrepreneurs have two prevalent conflicting parts: the safety-seeking part that wants to stick with what has worked, and the risk-taking part that wants to innovate and try new things
▶ 2:35Parts Integration is performed by visualizing the safety-seeking part in your left hand and the risk-taking part in your right hand, then merging them together and integrating them into your chest
▶ 3:07Both conflicting parts have positive intentions - they're both trying to keep you safe and growing, which allows them to work together as a team when properly integrated
▶ 5:44We unconsciously shift between different personality parts throughout the day - lazy parts, motivated parts, loving parts, independent parts - without realizing when control switches
▶ 1:31The Parts Integration exercise can be applied whenever you notice inner conflict to align whatever conflicting parts are causing the misalignment
▶ 3:07Topics
Coaching Strategies
Business Frameworks
Common Mistakes